Setu-Ram ! Scrap the Setu project. Enshrine Ramayana...

1. Ramayana Exhibition at the British Library2. Release of a book titled, ‘Ramayana – around the world – a living legend’ by Ravi Kumar3. MuKa’s birthday poem of self-eulogy but lamenting on Setu project and naming Setu-Ram !

I will talk about the book published on May 30, 2008. Publisher: Bharatiya Itihas Sankalana Samiti, Kokan Prant, Mumbai. Price Rs. 100. This book should be translated into all languages of the world and adorn the library of every child.

The Table of Contents:

The Timeless TaleThe universal relevance of RamayanRamayan scriptures in South East Asian languagesRamayana in the WestRamayana in Islamic CountriesRamayana in Indonesia: Islam is our religion but Ramayana is our cultureIndonesia Ramayan presented in open air theatresRamayan in Malaysia: we rule in the name of Ram’s PadukaRamayan among the Muslims of PhilippinesPersian and Arabic RamayanThe borderless appeal of RamayanInfluence of Ramayan in Asia CountriesInfluence of Ramayan in CambodiaInfluence of Ramayan in ThailandRamayana the National Epic of ThailandInfluence of Ramayan in BurmaInfluence of Ramayan in LaosWeyang Kulit or South East Asian Puppet showsRamayan in VietnamSino RamayanaRamayan in JapanAward winning animated RamayanJapanese interest in RamayanRamayan in Mongolia, Tibet, Korea, SiberiaSri Lanka and NepalRamayan in BharatIndian contemporary versionsRamayana landmarksThe popularity of RamayanaRama Nawami celebrations of People of Indian originInternational Ramayana ConferencesEpi ExpressionsModern Ram Setus

Annexures1. Important Ramayan Names depending on foreign versions2. Lord Ram did exist3. Why Lord Ram will not appear now4. Diwali festival around the world5. Significance of Easster to Hindus6. Pre-Christian origin of Christmas and Easter7. Anecdotes on Ramayan from Panchamritam8. Ramayan in computer language9. Ramayan in Sri Lanka

The Ramayana Exhibition at the British Library(16 May-14 September 2008)

In ancient India sage Valmiki told the story of prince Rama in the epic Ramayana in Sanskrit, consisting of 24000 verses. Traditionally Hindus believe that Lord Rama lived in Treta Yuga, one of the four Yugas (aeons) namely Satya, Treta, Dwapara and Kali.

The Ramayana exhibition was formally opened on Thursday 15 May 2008 by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar the Maharana of Udaipur. The Mewar Maharana family dynasty is over 1200 years old.

The Ramayana was a favourite subject for Rajsthani painters of 17th century. Illustrated Ramayana manuscripts were prepared between 1649-1653 for Rana Jagat Singh of Mewar in his court studio at Udaipur. Maharana Bhim Singh presented the manuscripts to Colonel James Tod, author of Annals and Antiquities of Rajsthan in 1820. The British Museum Library acquired the manuscripts in 1844.

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The exhibition covers the story of prince Rama in 12 episodes starting from his boyhood, marriage, exile, search for his lost wife princess Sita, concluding with her recovery following the slaying of the demon king Ravana.

In the autumn of 2007 I was delighted to learn from the British Library that a Ramayana exhibition was planned for May - September 2008, thanks to the Chairman Sir Colin Lucas, his team and especially Jerry Losty, curator of the British Library and former head of Prints, Drawings and Photographs also at the British Library.

The exhibition is well worth a visit.

Dr Rishi Agarwal Representative - Hindu Heritage Hindu Council UKNote : Hindu Council UK (HCUK) is the foremost and largest national network of the Hindu temple bodies and cultural organisations co-ordinating all different schools of Hindu theology within the UK. HCUK is the representative umbrella body for the British Hindu issues for which a UK wide mandate was received during a two year consultation with the British Hindu public culminating in its launch in November 1994.

Mu. Karunanidhi’s birthday poem of self-eulogy (translated from Tamil) for his 85th birthday on 3 June 2008.

Made me a old-man reminding me that I am 85But at the age of 8 plus 5, thirteen,I pushed down the "Vedism" warning, "be at a distance, don't touch"!There is no bar for becoming "Archaka" in templesEnacted accordingly to act in the sanctum sanctorum of templesFor Periyar, it took 60 years to bring out such ideology, butI implemented it as a service to him!Not only for Dravidian bigwigs,Even for common people daily we implementWhat we swore as electioneering promises!But still, I have one worryMy heart throbs as the dream of Kamaraj could not be fulfilled.To fulfill that dream only,we go on implement plans one by one targeting it.Sethu-samutharam has been one of such wonderful dream-projects.Lushness to dance in the land of chaste TamilBenefits accrue by the increase of tradeWe do not have any other way!Sethu-samuthram has been our historical necessity!Without preventing it with trickeryRespecting my trembling voice,As I worked for this land, language during my lifetime,Instead of killing the project by telling the name of Ram,I appeal on the day my birth as a message:If you want name it "Sethu-Ram", do it!This is my birth-day message for the country –to live without any love or hate and for removal of fragility.